Update, 7:30 p.m., 1/10 In front of a standing-room-only crowd that included many dog park advocates, the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Committee approved a fenced dog park at Arctic Benson Park on Thursday.

The caveat is it must still be approved by Animal Control Advisory Board and the Anchorage Assembly, but the Midtown Community Council that championed this effort is optimistic.

Scout

Here's Anchorage Animal Care and Control's Adoption of the Week, courtesy of Brooke Taylor, AACCC public relations coordinator.

Nano

Dogblog note: Beginning today, the Dog Blog will be featuring occasional adoptions from Kitty and K9 Connection, an animal rescue / foster / adoption organization operating in Anchorage since 2001.

Here's this week's pet:

Whether you're the type to make New Year's resolutions or not, I thought it would be fun to give this idea some thought as pertaining to our dogs. What would you like them to accomplish in 2013? Be as serious or silly as you like.

Here's mine:

Jillie, 3-year-old Yorkie turning 4 in April

Rudy
Here's Anchorage Animal Care and Control's Adoption of the Week, courtesy of Brooke Taylor, AACCC public relations coordinator.

Experienced dog owners, you know the drill: As a rule, dogs and fireworks don't mix, so be on guard tonight to keep your dogs safe and secure on New Year's Eve.

Though fireworks are no longer legal in Anchorage , they are readily available in the Valley and typically wind up in great numbers in Anchorage, legal or not.

Here are some tips AACCC issues last year on New Year's Eve:

Use this space to discuss training issues -- brag about successes, lament setbacks or bounce a question off the group.

Here's my report:

Eddie: I've been working at teaching him a soft speak in addition to a louder bark. I call it his "hospital voice" for when we visit Providence as a therapy dog team. It's not only practical -- I don't want him barking loud in the hospital -- but it's kinda fun.

I started out rewarding him for "speak" no matter what he did audibly. I'd ring the doorbell (prompting a bark), give him the speak command and reward success with a treat.

Chris K
Here's Anchorage Animal Care and Control's Adoption of the Week, courtesy of Brooke Taylor, AACCC public relations coordinator.

I brought up this topic a while ago and got several good suggestions, but times change, new places open and dog owners have new experiences at their old day cares and boarding facilities.

Are there any places you like and trust for either daycare or longterm boarding? And why do you like them?

Please don't mention by name places you don't like. I'm not out to tarnish anyone's reputation on a forum where they don't have an opportunity to defend themselves. And, even if they could, I don't want to get into a lot of "he said, she said" debate here. I want to keep it positive.

ThorHere's Anchorage Animal Care and Control's Adoption of the Week, courtesy of Brooke Taylor, AACCC public relations coordinator.

Use this space to discuss anything you'd like -- treat it as a bulletin board for all things dog.

Bear with me, this one's a little obscure: For those of you who have owned males and females over the years, a question: Do you notice differences in their behavior that you would attribute to the sex? In other words, how are they different when it comes to personality? Is one easier to train? More sociable? More or less outgoing?

Shadow
Here's Anchorage Animal Care and Control's Adoption of the Week, courtesy of Brooke Taylor, AACCC public relations coordinator.

I just stumbled upon an interesting new business catering to Alaska dogs that looks pretty cool.

Check out the business brief owners Bruce and Martina Richardson submitted to the paper:

Lady
Here's Anchorage Animal Care and Control's Adoption of the Week, courtesy of Brooke Taylor, AACCC public relations coordinator.

A 5.8 earthquake jolted Southcentral Monday afternoon. How'd your pets do?

Here's my report:

Lucy, the Chessie: Didn't wake from a nap.

Jillie, 3-year-old Yorkie: Looked at the back door that was rattling, then quickly forgot about it.

Eddie, 8-year-old Yorkie: Freaked out. He was on Kelly's lap and snuggled tighter, wanting to get under her blanket. He's a notorious scaredy cat on things he doesn't understand.

Use this space to discuss training issues -- brag about successes, lament setbacks or bounce a question off the group.

Chip
Here's Anchorage Animal Care and Control's Adoption of the Week, courtesy of Brooke Taylor, AACCC public relations coordinator.

Is your dog rock-solid when it comes to behaving in a socially acceptable fashion around other animals and people? If not, do you know what situations to avoid or how to manage it? Bonus points for examples.

Timber
Here's Anchorage Animal Care and Control's Adoption of the Week, courtesy of Brooke Taylor, AACCC public relations coordinator.